Fanthorpe and Duffy use language very skilfully, yet in different ways to convey their opinions. The use of language in “Valentine” illustrates Duffy’s viewpoint on love. She uses many words with negative connotations, such as “tears”, “fierce”, and “lethal”. This emphasises her realistic views on love, and on how love can be used in a destructive way. There is an implied threat of violence throughout the poem, shown by the use of the word “knife”. The use of it in the final line leaves the reader with a menacing view of love. “Possessive” is one of the words chosen by Duffy to explain the reason for her choice of an onion as a “Valentine”. This has a double edged meaning, as the word has many negative connotations now. It implies an inescapable hold upon someone, whether wanted or not, and it often carries hints of peril with it.
Through the language chosen by Fanthorpe, her feelings on the necessity of the existence of love are made clear. Her description of her “edifice” as “suspect” in the penultimate line emphasises the vulnerability of those without an “Atlas”. Also, in the final section of the poem Fanthorpe creates a personal touch by moving into the first person. By doing this, she draws her readers into the poem, by emphasising “my faulty wiring…my dryrotten jokes”. Her allusions to building terms stress the need to work and “maintain” any relationship. Most people realise the importance of “insulat[ing]…faulty wiring, and “know[ing] the way/ The way the money goes”, even if they do not understand the importance of this in a relationship. Therefore, by the use of this metaphor, Fanthorpe is able to add more impact to her point. Although Fanthorpe uses an extended metaphor throughout “Atlas”, the verbs she uses give a greater depth to her exploration of love as it “knows”, “remembers”, “answers” and “doesn’t forget”. This use of verbs causes the reader to rise above the boring tasks described, and see the importance of such deeds in a relationship.
In Fanthorpe’s view of love, it is essential to “uphold/ The permanent elaborate/ Structures of living”. It is given immense importance by the classical comparison of her “suspect edifice” being kept “upright…As Atlas did the sky”. However, this differs from Duffy, who portrays love as a choice, “if you like”. Although it is a choice, once made, it is inescapable as it will “cling” to you and “stay on your lips”. It is clear that Duffy is aware of the transience of love, as she states “for as long as we are”. Therefore, although a relationship can end, the love once felt has an interminable hold.
Both poets have a disillusioned view of love, and are “trying to be truthful”. However, the truths they are trying to reveal are of very different kinds. “Valentine” exposes that fact that there is much more to love can be first ascertained. There is a hidden, destructive force that comes with the “cute card or a kissogram”, which turns you into “a wobbling photo of grief”. This is done by the first verse making love seem to be really good, and then suddenly adding a negative tone in the second stanza. This change in tone is evident from the start with the use of the imperative “Here”. This makes the onion sound less like a gift, and more of a forced, or unwanted offering, being thrust upon someone. The poem continues to become more and more sinister, ending on an eerie note, with the use of “Lethal” to create tension, and a dramatic last line of “cling to your knife”.
The disillusionment concerning romance in “Atlas” is contrasting to that of “Valentine”. “Atlas” also discusses a less welcome aspect of love, but it does it in a much less cynical manner. It deals with the ordinary support and “maintenance” needed by all relationships. However, it does not do this in a bitter tone. The idea that “maintenance” is only one facet of love helps to make love seem much better. This is stressed as it is “a kind of love”, and “the sensible side of love”. Although it is only shown to be one area of love, its value is shown by the enormity of the job it does of “uphold[ing]…structures of living”. It reveals that a relationship cannot work without a pragmatic aspect, which must “store the WD40”. The comparison to “Atlas” as a classical figure is oddly appropriate, because he too was holding up a “suspect” structure due to necessity, although unwillingly. Love too must be held up by some unwanted chores otherwise the “ricketty elaborate structure” will collapse. The comparison to “Atlas” is a tribute to love, and highlights the importance given to it by Fanthorpe.
Both Fanthorpe and Duffy choose to state the importance of seeing below the surface of love and the relationship. In “Valentine”, this is expressed through the metaphor of the layers in the onion. It emphasises the need for the “careful undressing of love”, saying that it is a “moon wrapped in brown paper”. Therefore one must get through the paper to see what it really has to offer. Fanthorpe conveys the importance of more deeply in a different way. She emphasises the need to know the other person really well, so that one can “laugh at [their] dryrotten jokes” and “remember [their] need for gloss and grouting”. In Fanthorpe’s mind, this attention to detail and depth of understanding is what “keeps [a] suspect edifice upright in air”.
The style used by both writers is contrasting. Duffy uses free verse, with very short, emphatic lines. This makes the poem seem more dramatic and increases tension. She isolates certain words to create a more threatening tone. For example “like a lover” is on its own line, this adds power to it. Also, the single words such as “Here” or “Lethal” are impacting. The complete separation of “I am trying to be truthful” adds a feeling of desperation. This differs greatly form “Atlas”. Although the start of “Atlas” is split into couplets, there is a feeling of continuity throughout the poem. This is achieved through enjambment, even between different stanzas, “which upholds/ The permanently, ricketty”. The enjambment makes the poem seem less jerky and harsh. “Atlas” is written mostly in pairs of lines; however, the addition of “As Atlas did the sky” causes the last section to have an uneven number of lines. This adds impact on that line and on the subject of her metaphor.
Both of these poem look below the surface of love, trying to see what is “wrapped in brown paper”. However, what they find upon their “undressing of love” differs greatly. After reading “Valentine”, the reader is left with a rather cynical, yet realistic view of love, and all the potential dangers it brings. “Atlas”, on the other hand, portrays love as an essential part of life, even if it has a “sensible side” which is not so palatable. Therefore, although both these poets are being “truthful”, they are exposing two very different truths.
